Farming and agricultural industries are historically the most important ventures in the Gridley area. The area remains home to several large manufacturing, general services, and agricultural companies. The overall economic environment has produced a mix of new housing, small and large employers, as well as shopping opportunities. Healthcare also comprises a large sector of the local economy. The beautiful and historic downtown district remains intact. "Silk Stocking Row" the many well-preserved turn-of-the-century homes on Hazel Street, was so named because during the Depression the only women who could afford silk stockings lived in these large Hazel Street homes.

The City of Gridley was named after its founder and earliest landowner, George W. Gridley, a prosperous sheep rancher. Agriculture became a stable and attractive business in the 1860s. The Central Pacific Railroad laid tracks from Oregon to Chico in 1865. The railroad completed its path to Gridley in 1870, contributing significantly to the formation of the new community. The principal products from the Gridley area were wool and sheep. Orchards, field crops, and cattle would soon follow. In 1896, the Libby, McNeil & Libby Cannery was established and became one of the largest peach canning operations in the world. The first home and store in Gridley were built by L.C. Stone in 1874. Stone served as postmaster, the train depot and express agent, as well as a merchant. Wells Fargo & Co. opened its office in 1871 and soon other businesses followed suit.

View of Farm ground south of Gridley.

In response to a "The Place Where Crops Never Fail" advertising campaign by the California Irrigated Land Company, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began emigrating from the Rexburg, Idaho area to Gridley in November 1906. By February of the following year the Gridley Branch of the church was organized and more Latter-day Saints continued coming to Gridley from Idaho, Nevada, Utah and other states, effectively turning this small farming community into a Mormon enclave.[9] By the end of 1908 there were some 500 LDS settlers in the Gridley area and their first chapel was constructed on the west corner of Sycamore and Vermont Streets in 1912 with a seating capacity of 1,000—the largest LDS meetinghouse west of Salt Lake City at that time.[10]

FEMA - Gridley Camp Fire Community - The November 2018 Camp Wildfire is considered the most destructive wildfire in California’s history, burning nearly 154,000 acres for 17 days, claiming at least 88 lives, destroying nearly 13,972 residences, and leaving homeless over 30,000 of our Butte County neighbors.
The State of California proclaimed an emergency, declaring the provision of housing as a state priority. The City of Gridley City Council committed itself to assisting FEMA registered residents of Paradise and other impacted communities, including the provision of high quality temporary housing options for residents of Butte County displaced by the catastrophic and devastating “Camp Fire".
The City Council demonstrated a commitment to gathering community input, including three public hearings on December 17, 2018, December 28, 2018, and January 7th, 2019 regarding the potential temporary (18 to 24 months) 350-unit Modular Housing community for registered FEMA Camp Fire Survivors at the City owned Industrial Park. The City Council accepted the final lease with the United States Government at the January 7, 2019 Council meeting, allowing the "Gridley Camp Fire Community" to be built. FEMA immediately began the design and construction of the temporary community with the intent to locate 350 temporary modular housing units at the City owned Industrial Park.[11]

The Census reported that 6,472 people (98.3% of the population) lived in households, 16 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 96 (1.5%) were institutionalized. There were 2,183 households, out of which 910 (41.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,087 (49.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 338 (15.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 134 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 149 (6.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 8 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 520 households (23.8%) were made up of individuals and 297 (13.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96. There were 1,559 families (71.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.54.

The population was spread out with 1,892 people (28.7%) under the age of 18, 668 people (10.1%) aged 18 to 24, 1,681 people (25.5%) aged 25 to 44, 1,415 people (21.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 928 people (14.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

There were 2,406 housing units at an average density of 1,161.7 per square mile (448.5/km²), of which 2,183 were occupied, of which 1,262 (57.8%) were owner-occupied, and 921 (42.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%. 3,829 people (58.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,643 people (40.1%) lived in rental housing units.

Farming and agricultural industries are the most important ventures in the Gridley area. The area is home to several large manufacturing, general services, and agricultural companies. The overall environment has produced a mix of new housing, small and large employers, as well as shopping opportunities. Healthcare also comprises a large sector of the local economy.

Gridley is known as a friendly and industrious farming community with a strong work ethic and an active citizenry. The Gridley Community established the Red Suspenders Day in 1961 as a dance to raise revenue for the volunteer Gridley Firefighters. The annual April event is now a region-wide celebration spanning two days of family fun and events including: The Big Parade; Classic Car Show; Classic Bed Races; Pie Eating Contests; and Children’s Art Activities. The 1-mile-long parade attracts 8,000 attendees and features floats and a procession of parade participants, with a strong focus on public safety.

Splash area during the Annual Red Suspenders Festival. The Annual event honors First Responders.

The annual late November Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade of Lights is focused on the family and includes: Festive Live Music; a Parade of Lights; Craft Fair; Great Food; and Children’s Art Activities.

The farmers market is held every Tuesday evening June through September in beautifully restored Daddow Park in Historic Downtown Gridley. The Market is hosted and run by the Gridley Chamber of Commerce. It offers a large collection of fresh produce as well as baked goods, crafts, food vendors, and live entertainment.

Gridley is a general law city as opposed to a charter city and operates under a council-administrator form of government. The elected government consists of 5 separately elected City council members. The current mayor is Bruce Johnson. The current city administrator is Paul Eckert.

Vierra Park is located between the far south ends of Haskell and Washington Streets. The 13.5 acre Park offers large areas of shaded grass under a grove of oak trees. Park facilities include a new splash pad, updated restrooms, playground equipment, tennis courts, barbecue facilities, benches and tables, and baseball and softball diamonds. The Park also has a fenced area for children's birthday parties.

Beautiful grand lawn area at Vierra Park

Daddow Park is located at Hazel and Virginia Streets. The stunning landmark and Downtown Park has a gazebo, picnic tables shaded by huge cypress and palm trees, and barbecue facilities. Free concerts are often held at the gazebo. The Park is the central site of the Annual Red Suspenders Day event.

Gridley Rotary Park is located on Washington Street between Sycamore and Magnolia Streets. The one acre Park has shade trees, grass and picnic tables.

Skateboard Park is located at the intersection of Washington Street and Spruce Street. The large modern skatepark facility is well used and safely maintained.

Railroad Park is located along Washington Street at Hazel near the Downtown. The Park offers picnic benches, shade trees, and a barbeque area. Just across the street from Railroad Park to the north is Quota Park, a tranquil sitting area that includes a beautiful fountain, benches, and tables.

Boat Launch Park includes a new boat ramp and dock, restrooms, lighting, and a fish cleaning table. It's located 5 minutes east of Gridley on East Gridley Road. The modern facility was largely funded by the California Division of Boating and Waterways.[15]

Nearby Recreation - Excellent hunting, fishing and naturalist opportunities are broadly available in the region. The Gray Lodge Wildlife Waterfowl Management Area is located just 10 miles southwest of Gridley and includes 8,400 acres of the most intensively used and developed wetlands in the entire Pacific Flyway. Gridley is also within minutes of the exceptional recreational facilities available at Lake Oroville and the Feather River which provides some of the best salmon fishing in the state.

B-Line (Butte Regional Transit) is Butte County's regional public transit system. Area residents use B-Line to travel locally in Gridley, Chico, Oroville, and Paradise, or to travel between communities throughout Butte County.[16]

The City of Gridley operates a local bus within city limits referred to as the Feather Flyer. The Feather Flyer provides Dial-A-Ride service for seniors and the disabled in Gridley.

The Gridley area is served by the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) located 55 miles south of Gridley. The Sacramento International Airport is a Gateway to Northern California and the World. SMF offers direct and nonstop flights to and from destinations throughout North America offering a dozen airline options including Southwest Airlines.

The City of Gridley is one of just a few Northern California cities that provides electric service within city limits. The city operates its own electric power distribution network and telemetry. Interconnection points tie the city into PG&E's electric transmission system, which brings power from several sources to the city. Gridley is a member of a joint powers authority (the Northern California Power Agency), which cooperatively generates electricity for government power providers such as the City of Santa Clara, the City of Redding, and the Port of Oakland.

Gridley provides water utility services. Water comes from a series of municipal wells within the area’s abundant watershed. The city also provides wastewater treatment (sewer) utilities.